Protection structure for a keel and/or profiled parts of a boat

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a protection structure for a keel or profiled parts of a boat. The protection structure has advantageously an exemplary finishing, as well as lightness and sturdiness, and comprises a section with a predetermined length and a plurality of fixing means to fix the section to the keel; the structure further comprises a recess longitudinally formed in the section and a plastic-material filling element in at least a portion of said recess.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in its more general aspect, to a protection structure for a keel and/or profiled parts of a boat.

In particular, the invention relates to a protection structure for a keel or wearing boat parts generally protected by sections or mouldings, like for example fender bars.

2. Description of the Related Art

As it is well known in the boating technical field, the term keel means that portion of a boat hull which is positioned longitudinally fore to aft, connecting the transverse frameworks and joining the skin of the two hull sides.

In the prior art a protection structure is usually applied to the keel, outside the hull, in order to save it in land operations, for example during the boat haulage, and to protect it from possible scrapings for example against the depths.

The known protection structure comprises a section being substantially as long as the keel: this section is a stainless steel lump, generally obtained by drawing. The sectional shape of this section is usually a circular segment.

The section is fixed to the keel by means of a plurality of fixing means composed of self-threading screws being distributed in correspondence with respective through holes, provided along the section in a predetermined spaced relation with each other.

Although advantageous under different points of view, the protection structure arranged as above schematically described, has known drawbacks.

First of all, the high lump section cost is pointed out.

In fact, for the realisation thereof, three or more passages in a drawbench are generally required with a following annealing operation: moreover, the section coming from the annealing has a rough surface, which must preferably undergo a finishing operation, for example lapping and subsequent polishing, with further corresponding costs.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a protection structure for a keel and/or profiled parts of a boat, capable of meeting the above-described requirement, meanwhile overcoming, in a simple and effective way, the drawback mentioned with reference to the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This aim is reached, according to the invention, by a first embodiment of the invention concerning a protection structure for a keel and/or profiled parts of a boat comprising: a section having a length corresponding to the length of said keel; a recess longitudinally formed in said section; a plastic filling material filling at least a portion of said recess; and a plurality of fixing means for fixing said section to said keel.

Further features and advantages of the protection structure for a keel according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a boat equipped with a keel protection structure according to one particular embodiment of the present invention and shown in an exploded view.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a protection structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the protection structure of FIG. 2, when being used.

FIG. 4 is a further schematic perspective view of a boat equipped with a protection structure for profiled-parts according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, one particular protection structure according to the present invention is shown and globally indicated with 10, for a keel 30 of a boat 32.

The protection structure 10 comprises a substantially rod-shaped section 12, being longer than wide and thick and, in some instances, intended to be constrained to the keel 30 and/or profiled parts 15 of the boat for the whole length thereof. The structure 10 also comprises a plurality of fixing means 14 to fix the section 12 to the keel 30 or to the parts 15.

Profiled parts mean all those boat wearing portions or boat portions intended to perform a shock-resistant function, like for example fender bars. By simple way of example, reference can be made to FIG. 4, which schematically shows a boat 32 being peripherally equipped with a protection and finishing moulding extending along the boat edge. In particular, the stern region 25 of this boat 32 is equipped with the protection structure 10 according to the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, and as better shown in FIG. 2, the structure 10 comprises a recess 16 longitudinally formed in the section 12. Furthermore, the structure 10 comprises a plastic-material filling element 18 positionable in said recess 16 or, at least, in at least one portion or section of this recess 16.

Generally, the section 12 can be made of steel, preferably stainless steel; while the filling element 18 can be waterproof and with a desired elasticity.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the section 12, having the recess 16, can be implemented by a steel list having a hump-like profile, obtained for example from a rectangular-or-trapezoidal-section list, of a predetermined width (for example 50 mm), a predetermined thickness (for example 2 mm) and can have at least a greater flat face with a predetermined high surface finishing. The finishing preferably can be obtained after bending the section.

In other words, the section 12 with the recess 16 can be composed of a “C”-section semi-lunar section.

The element 18, in the example, can be a plastic material section, preferably PVC, equipped with a surface conjugated with a surface of the recess 16, i.e. it can have a massive circular-sector-shaped section.

More precisely, the section 12 can have an external surface 12 a and an internal surface 12 b, defining the recess 16; the element 18, having a circular-sector-shaped section, can have an external surface 18 a and an internal surface 18 b. The internal surface 12 b of the section 12 can be shaped to complement the external surface 18 a of the element 18.

The section 12 and the element 18 are mutually constrained. An adhesive can be used to this purpose. Or rather, a both sides adhesive tape 20 with opposed faces 20 a and 20 b can be used, fixed at first by the face 20 a in the recess 16 of the section 12 and then joint, after removing the a siliconed protective layer from the face 20 b, to the element 18.

Before the implementation on the keel 30, the so-realised protection structure 10 and i.e. the assembly of the section 12, the both sides adhesive tape 20 and the element 18, undergoes a compression to scavenge the remaining air possibly trapped between the both sides adhesive tape 20, the section 12 and the element 18 respectively, as well as to ensure the full adhesion of the both sides adhesive tape 20 to the section 12 and to the element 18. This compression can be performed for example by lefting the structure 10 pass into a simple roller press.

In the example of the figures, the plurality of fixing means 14 through which the section 12, complete with the element 18, is constrained to the keel 30, is composed of screws 22, for example self-threading screws, for example of the D8 type with a 6 mm diameter, which are distributed in correspondence with respective through holes 24 and 26, crossing the section 12 and the element 18 respectively and which are provided in a predetermined spaced relation with each other, for example 200 mm.

To cover the whole length of the keel or other boat parts, multiple sections of structure 10 may be used. By simple way of example, FIG. 2 has indicated four different sections of structure 10 with the references: 10 a, 10 b, 10 c and 10 d to cover the whole length of the keel 30.

The operation of the protection structure for a boat keel according to the present invention is specified hereafter.

The element 18 is mounted in the recess 16 of the section 12 as above described and, after said compression or pressing operation, as they say, the protection structure 10 is ready for application to the keel 30 or to any part of the boat 32 requiring a protection profile.

The assembly of the section 12 and of the element 18, which is flexible, is put into contact with the keel 30, so to follow the profile thereof, and it is fixed thereto by means of screws 22, which are screwed starting from one of the two ends of the keel 30, preferably starting from the bow of the boat 32.

One advantage reached by the boat keel protection structure according to the invention is an unusual surface finishing quality.

Another advantage is that the assembly of the section and of the plastic-material element, pasted by the both sides adhesive tape, is unusually both light and resistant.

Another advantage of the invention is that the assembly of the section, of the both sides adhesive tape and of the plastic-material element has a good flexibility, being thus easy to mount along the keel profile. On the contrary, in the prior art, the lump section shaping operation, although annealed, to follow the keel profile, in order to give good results, must be performed by skilled operators.

A further advantage is that this structure is considerably cheaper than in the prior art, both in terms of costs of the materials being used, and in terms of production speed. In fact, for example, the lump section drilling operation to let fixing screws pass is simplified with respect to the prior art.

Not least advantage of the invention is the qualitatively exemplary boat aspect, achieved because the section perfectly follows the keel profile and—if possible—it minimises possible small irregularities.

Any U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A protection structure for a keel or profiled parts of a boat, comprising: an elongated section having a predetermined length and a recess longitudinally formed therein; a plastic filling material configured to be positioned in at least a portion of said recess; and a plurality of fixing means for fixing the section to said keel while the plastic filling material is positioned within at least a portion of said recess.
 2. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said section is formed by a steel list having a hump-like profile.
 3. A protection structure according to claim 2, wherein said section is obtained by bending starting from a rectangular-or-trapezoidal-section list, said list being equipped with at least a greater flat face with a high surface finishing.
 4. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said section has substantially a “C”-shaped profile.
 5. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said filling material comprises plastic material.
 6. A protection structure according to claim 5, wherein said plastic material is PVC.
 7. A protection structure according to claim 5, wherein said filling material has an exterior surface that is conjugated with an interior surface of said section.
 8. A protection structure according to claim 4, wherein said filling material has an arcuate-shaped section.
 9. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said section and said filling material are mutually constrained during use.
 10. A protection structure according to claim 9, wherein said section and said filling material are constrained by an adhesive.
 11. A protection structure according to claim 9, wherein said section and said filling material are constrained by an adhesive tape having both adhesive sides.
 12. A protection structure according to claim 11, wherein said section and said filling material undergo a compression for scavenging the possible air remained trapped.
 13. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of fixing means are screws.
 14. A protection structure according to claim 13, wherein said screws are self-threading and are distributed in correspondence of respective through holes crossing said section and said filling material respectively; said screws being provided in a predetermined spaced relation one with respect to the other.
 15. A protection structure according to claim 1, wherein said section is made of steel.
 16. A protection structure according to claim 15, wherein said steel is stainless.
 17. A section configured to be fixed to a keel or to parts to be profiled of a boat, the section extending for at least a length section of the keel or said parts, and including a longitudinal recess therein.
 18. A section according to claim 17, wherein said recess is associated to a plastic-material filling element.
 19. A protection structure for a boat keel comprising: a section having a length corresponding to the length of said keel; a recess longitudinally formed in said section; a plastic filling material filling at least a portion of said recess; and a plurality of fixing means for fixing said section to said keel.
 20. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said section is a steel list having a hump-like profile.
 21. A protection structure according to claim 20, wherein said section is obtained by bending starting from a rectangular-or-trapezoidal-section list; said list being equipped with at least a greater flat face with a predetermined high surface finishing.
 22. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said section is substantially a “C”-shaped cross-section.
 23. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said filling material is a plastic material section.
 24. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said plastic filling material is PVC.
 25. A protection structure according to claim 23, wherein said filling material has an external surface conjugated with an internal surface of said section.
 26. A protection structure according to claims 19, wherein said filling material has a substantially circular-sector-shaped section.
 27. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said section and said plastic filling material are mutually constrained.
 28. A protection structure according to claim 27, wherein said section and said plastic filling material are constrained by an adhesive.
 29. A protection structure according to claim 27, wherein said section and said plastic filling material are constrained by an adhesive tape having both adhesive sides.
 30. A protection structure according to claim 29, wherein said section and said plastic filling material so constrained undergo a compression for scavenging the possible air remained trapped.
 31. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of fixing means are screws.
 32. A protection structure according to claims 31, wherein said screws are self-threading and are distributed in correspondence of respective through holes crossing said section and said plastic filling material respectively; said screw being are provided in a predetermined spaced relation one with the other.
 33. A protection structure according to claim 19, wherein said section is made of steel.
 34. A protection structure according to claim 33, wherein said steel is stainless.
 35. A section intended to be fixed to a boat keel or to boat parts to be profiled and extending for at least a length section of said keel or said parts, wherein it includes a longitudinally developing recess.
 36. A section according to claim 35, wherein a plastic-material filling element is filled in said recess. 